Objective: To investigate the levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) total DNA and covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA in liver transplant recipients due to HBV-associated liver diseases and detemaine their clinical significance.
Methods: Sixty patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) due to HBV-associated liver diseases were enrolled for the study. Levels of HBV total and ccc DNA in plasma, liver and PBMCs were measured by RT-PCR.
Results: The ratio of male:female participants was 48:12. The mean age was 52.98+/-9.40 years old, and the median duration post-LT was 72 (25-128) months. 59 of the patients had no detectable HBV DNA in plasma.Four patients had detectable levels of total HBV DNA in PBMCs, but no detectable ccc DNA. Five patients had detectable levels of total HBV DNA in liver, and two of those also had detectable levels of ccc DNA. One patients who had detectable HBV DNA in PBMCs suffered HBV recurrence.
Conclusion: The liver transplant recipients with detectable levels of HBV total and ccc DNA in PBMCs and liver should be considered high risk for HBV recurrence following LT.